[Berubejam]

honestly dont go for the aftermarket cats, they make little or no difference (not to mention they tend to burn out) . 1-2 hp (with ceramic) Unless you get the very expensive ones, and then you might see a 2-5 hp gain. For two cats, each at @700 bucks not worth it. If your HP hungry, cut them off, but i have to warn you in advance its a nasty noise. The engine coughs and backfires, and drones quite loud with a horrible raspy note. I actually dynoed mine w/ & w/o cats w/o cats lowered low/mid range tq, but higher hp (12) and vice versa with cats. so keep em on.

As far as engines go, quite similar to algebra class. WHatever you do to one side you gotta do to the other. Get shorty headers, dump the stock y under passenger seat and replace the whole way back with 2/12 duals with a h pipe (for exhaust note) h pipe has never really done much for performance, but it always makes the note sounding better by syncing the pulses. purrs rather than glubs. Pick a muffler/s of choice, and use a little inginuity and welding skill to throw up your own full exhaust for 1/3 less than wht ud pay for the whole thing
$149.00 headers summit racing
$20-200 mufflers
$60-100 tubing

 

[Berubejam]

I'm gonna just throw in my .02. I just put on a new magnaflow muffler on my 07 4.8 and love the sound. It's not to loud and at crusing speeds to don't hear it at all. Anyways as far as shorty's go they do give you a whole lot for the 400 bucks they cost for a good set. Gibson, JBA etc. The one's for 150 from summit don't fit the newer trucks anyways. Plus they have a low heat paint on them that burns away a week later leaving rusty looking headers. Long tubes are the way to go but there's nothing really available yet for our trucks. I emailed pacesetter, who has the best prices on long tubes and they said a set are in the works. If your looking to not lose low end I'd suggest magnaflow because for the money they are a great product. If you don't mind spending more, Borla and Corsa are great as well.

those ****y shorty summit headers are made by pacesetter as well i bought them cause there cheap, and yea the paint comes off in 25 minutes! but than again who in the hell is gunna complain about paint coming off for 150 bucks compared to the same thing for 550 bucks because of a ceramic coating.

 

[Berubejam]

whynot just get it all from the factory, yeah it might be a little more but it is MADE for the truck and is factory installed so if something happens they are responsible not to mention that you pay for it with the truck not after and directly out of pocket which could easily be another grand depending on what you get from the aftermarket.

in reality, that is the best solution, but i am just offering a cheaper way us people on a budget, or for anyone who is doing it for the experience of building your own. always more gratifying!